Heaven for a shoe lover

Selfridges new shoe gallery. No wonder this attracts a shoe lover like Pernilla....

Swedish celebrity and shoe lover Pernilla Wahlgren was in London recently for the opening of the new shoe gallery at Selfridges. The biggest shoe department in the world! I had a chat with Pernilla to find out some more about her love for shoes!

Too many shoes! I can't decide!!!

Pernilla, we know you had loads of shoes before you went to London. How many pairs do you have in your collection now?

“Well, I haven’t counted them but there are probably a 100 of them. And I bought 5 new shoes at Selfridges..(!), so perhaps there are 105 of them now”?

What did you like most about the new shoe gallery?

“I was impressed that there is something for all wallets, even if you don’t have that much money to spend you can easily find something. But there are of course all the luxury brands as well. And what I especially liked was that you can walk around and look at luxury brands like Louboutin, and still feel comfortable, even if you don’t can afford to buy anything.  I don’t always feel comfortable doing that”.

Pernilla's new London shoes.

You spent a whole day at Selfridges, but if you only have an hour or so, what should a visitor focus on you think?

“As a shoe addict – don’t miss the shoe gallery, of course. And then I heard they have a fortune teller! I will definitely pay her a visit next time! And then I would suggest visiting the children’s departement, if you have kids…”

Afternoon tea at The Berkeley.

Pernilla Wahlgren spent two days in London, and besides spending time at Selfridges she also had time for a fashionistas afternoon tea (my favourite!) – the Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley Hotel.

Find your way to Selfridges with our Britain Map and read more about the store in our blog post “World’s biggest destination for shoe lovers”.

To find our more about Pernilla’s London visit, click here, to view all her posts on London. Write the word “London” in the search engine.

And don’t miss Pernilla’s other posts of her trip to London here on our blog, where she gives her favourite tips to the city.

-Helene-

London top 5 – by Pernilla Wahlgren

Swedish popstar and musical performer Pernilla Wahlgren is in London at the moment and I asked her to give us her top five experiences in the city.

Most Swedes will know that Piccadilly Circus was the song that made Pernilla famous in the 80′s.  But there is more to London than Piccadilly Circus. Even if you’re name is Pernilla Wahlgren!

Pernilla’s London top 5 :

1. Selfridges for great shopping!
2. Go and see at least ONE musical!
3. Madame Tussauds if you visit London with your family.
4. Afternoon tea at the Berkeley Hotel!
5. NOBU for great food!

And Piccadilly Circus – Of course!!

One of Pernilla’s favourites below - Selfridges – heaven for shoe lover Pernilla – and all the rest of us around the world! I wonder how many shoes Pernilla will have in her closest after this…

Read more about Pernilla’s great experiences in London in our previous post Pernilla Wahlgren’s favourite London on her own blog Pernillas Värld.

-Helene

Pernilla Wahlgren’s favourite London

Glamour, a love for fashion, shoes, good food - and a passion for London.

I asked Swedish superstar Pernilla Wahlgren to tell us about her top experiences in the city, her favourite British brands and to share some of her great travel experiences from the past!

Q: What inspires you to go to London? I really love London for the great shopping , the fantastic restaurants and hotels, and of course for all the musicals you can see there!

Q: Who is your favourite British designer: Stella McCartney

Q: Favourite British brand: Habitat

Q: Favourite British film: Notting Hill

Q: Favourite British actor/actress: Hugh Grant

Q: Favourite British TV series: X-factor

Q: Favourite British pop band: Coldplay

Q: I never travel without .. ? A cosy pillow for the flight. Good hair products, my facial creams and make-up!

Q: Your craziest memory of London? When I went to Stock Atkin Waterman’s Christmas party in the 80’s. All their record artists were invited and I didn’t know anyone but was sitting at the same table as Rick Astley and Bananarama!

Q: Your best travel experience ever: My first shopping trip to London with my best friend in the eighties! We really shopped till we dropped…!  (The images from Pernilla’s private album tells you the story!).

The first time I went to Thailand was magic!

Q: Your worst travel experience: When I was in New York for the first time I almost missed my plane home , because I were shopping and forgot the time completely!!

And dear readers, please come back tomorrow and I will tell you about Pernilla’s top five tips for London.

In the meanwhile, you can also have a look at Pernillas Värld.

Bye for now.

-Helene

Largest Kurt Geiger Boutique – Now Open in Covent Garden

Make your feet happy and bask in beautiful shoes at Kurt Geiger’s new flagship store in Convent Garden.

For those who don’t know about Kurt Geiger, it’s a luxury shoe retailer carrying brands for both women and men from high fashion designers such as Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and many more. In addition, they have their own popular brands of Kurt Geiger (KG by Kurt Geiger, Miss KG, Carvela, Solea and Fashionistas).

The boutique’s interior is glamorous and has a luxurious atmosphere, but the most eye-catching detail is the “shoe chandelier” made of over 250 shoes! See pictures of the store in Convent Garden here.

Find Kurt Geiger Boutique on our map.

//Siska

British vintage clothing in Stockholm

Grandpa on Kungsholmen in Stockholm

On Fridhemsgatan, just behind Västermalmsgallerian on Kungsholmen in Stockholm, lies one of my favourite clothing stores in Stockholm: Grandpa. Apart from a great selection of both new and vintage clothes, it also offers accessories, books and some furniture’s. The small inhouse café offers nice lunches and coffee, always to the sound of some great new and old pop music.

Shoes and ties

Grandpa offers clothes and accessories from both Scandinavian and international designer brands. But focus is on clothing for the “classic gentleman”, something that was also reinforced when Alexander Marchesan last Autumn decided to rent a corner of the store dedicated to high quality vintage men’s clothing. The store has a very cool classy British interior and sells tweed suits, bow ties and – my favourite – imported shoes from brands such as Crockett & Jones and Church. And since they only come in one pair each, you will be one of a very few people who have a pair in Sweden. As I walked around I asked Alexander about the store and his fascination for British fashion:

Tell me about the store, what inspired you to start selling classic vintage men’s clothes?
“What made me open the store was simply because I thought Stockholm was lacking this type of store. A dedicated second hand shopper and very interested in clothing design myself, I have often wondered why I haven’t found a store that sells the clothes I like. So I decided to change that. Focus is on quality and timeless design and the catalog ranges from the 1920s – today.”

“Unlike other second hand stores I only bring in garments hand picked by myself and only from my favourite brands, like Crockett&Jones, Gieves&Hawkes and Turnbull&Asser. The interior is inspired by classic outfitters with antique decorations and dark woods. This together is unique in Stockholm and I think in Sweden.”

What is your relation to Britain and British fashion?
“Genetically I have stronger bonds to the other design “superpower” as I am actually half Italian myself. But make no mistake, in clothing style I am undoubtedly British! Around 80% of the clothes in the shop are British, that says it all really. Without Britain, this shop wouldn’t exist.”

“A thing I really like about Britain and the Brits is their honesty. All my best business contacts are in England, they are very knowledgeable, serious and sympathetic.”

Alexander surrounded by plants, globes and bow ties

Do you have any favourite British brands or designers?
“I love ties from Drakes. Ironically, I bought my first Drakes tie in Italy a few years ago, since then they have been a favourite. As I love braces, I must also mention Albert Thurston. They probably make the best braces in the world! Unfortunately, a lot of people are not aware of that braces are the most comfortable way to keep your pants in place…”

What is your favorite places to shop for clothes in Britain?
“Predictable really, but I have to say Savile Row in London. All men interested in clothing must visit Savile Row when in London. As a shopkeeper myself I find it very inspiring, I look just as much at the interior and presentation of the clothes as at the clothing itself.”

“Jermyn Street is also a must-see, where I find a lot of the more affordable clothes that I sell, including T.M. Lewin and Charles Tyrwhitt. These brands offers a very high quality for a reasonable price, especially if you are looking for garments you don’t need to try on, such as ties, handkerchiefs and braces.”

So, if you are ever in Stockholm, be sure to stop by Grandpa and Alexander’s store. It really is worth a visit.

/Carl

Menswear Boutique Serving Beer

At The Menu in Spitalfields Mall you can expect to find trendy jackets, jeans, polo shirts and scarves from a variety of British and international designers like Fred Perry, Paul Smith and Nicole Farhi to mention a few.

Enjoy an ice cold beer while trying on clothes at The Menu

This fashionable boutique is decorated with furniture from recycled materials. But what attracts the costumers is probably that The Menu knows their audience and that shopping can be exhausting, especially for men. If you’re lucky you’ll be served an ice cold beer while you’re trying on their designer brands or quirky labels in the dressing room.

So ladies, next time your man starts getting bored when you’re out shopping, I suggest you bring you him to The Menu!

/Siska

Carnaby 20% Shopping Event

Carnaby Street

This is your chance to go on a shopping frenzy at Carnaby street and get 20 % discount at over 100 shops, bars and restaurants! Besides shopping, you can enjoy live music, giveaways, makeovers and much more.

If you’re lucky to be in London 13th of May, I suggest you be there or be square!

For your free entry ticket, click here

/ Siska

London – Shopping News

It’s time to pack away the winter jackets and renew your summer closet. Brush the dust off your sunglasses and travel to England’s shopping mecca – London.  Here is my guide over what’s happening right now and where you can get some great bargains!

Alternative Fashion Week in Spitalfields
Alternative Fashion Week takes place between the 19th – 23rd of April. During this period there will be a daily fashion show in Spitalfields Market, which is also a fashion market. You can find everything from fashionable clothes and up-and-coming designers to ecological baked products.
Read about Alternative Fashion Week here
Read about Spitalfields Market here

Seven Dials Shopping Evening – get 20 % off
Mark your calendar for April  29th and get 20% discount in over 90 Seven Dials stores. You’ll get discounts at stores like Urban Outfitters, Kitchen Italia, Volcom, Fred Perry, All Saints and many more.
Click here to view the full list of Seven Dials stores
To be able to get the discount you need a voucher which you can get here

Designer Sales UK (DSUK)
This is your chance to get a designer bargain from Vivienne Westwood, Dolce & Gabbana or John Galliano. So put on your comfy shoes and sharpen your elbows because I’m sure it’s going to be crowded! The Designer Sales UK goes on between the 23rd – 25th of April.
Read about Designer Sales UK here

Alfie Antique Market
This is London’s largest indoor antique market, and they will be hosting a series of Nostalgia Saturdays which will take you back to the pre-1920s – 1930s, 1940s – 1950s and the 1960s – 1970s. Furniture, music and clothes will be showcased from  the different eras. Next Nostalgia Saturday will be on May 22nd (1940s – 1950s) and on June 19th (1960s – 1970s).
Read about Alfie Antique Market here

- Siska

Things to do in Britain when you’re stuck

Stuck in Britain because of an ash cloud? Don’t despair – Britain is probably the best place to get stuck in, since it’s full of great things to do all year round. So read this blog post and get inspired!

LONDON

Musicals
Phantom of the Opera, Buddy, La Bohème, Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys or The Lion King – There is simply no better place to catch a musical than in London. And even if you don’t have tickets, there’s always a good chance to find tickets last minute at Leicester Square.

Find out which musical you want to see and if it’s running this weekend on Time Out London.

Storm Exhibition – Right but Wrong
See the highly recommended exhibition “Right but Wrong – The Extended Album Art of Storm Studios and Hipgnosis” at Idea Generation Gallery. The exhibition is open until 2nd of May 2010.

Idea Generation Gallery
11 Chance Street
London E2 7JB
Web: Idea Generation Gallery

London Architecture Walks
If your interested in architecture but not sure what to visit or how, then a guided walk might be the answer. With London Architecture Walks, you can choose a theme like “London Churches”, “Financial London” or “River Thames”. Take your pick and start walking.

Web: London Architecture Walks

Have a pint at a local pub
Relax – there’s nothing you can do about the cloud anyway. So why not have a pint and just let the hours go by for a while? With the Good Pub Guide you can find the best places to find a good pint throughout Britain.

Web: The Good Pub Guide

ENGLAND

Fine Food Market in Nottingham
With almost 40 stallholders from across the East Midlands – selling everything from meat, cheese and pickles, to fudge, cakes, beer and wine – there is going to be plenty of choice for food and drink lovers everywhere. So take yourself down to Old Market Square between 16th and 17th of April and eat your way through British food culture this weekend.

Find more things to do in Nottingham on Visit Nottinghams homepage.

See a Premier League football game
Take the opportunity to see a Premier League football game this weekend. There are still some great matches that aren’t sold out like the derby between Manchester City and Manchester United or Liverpool – Westham and Blackburn – Everton.

Buy tickets on Premier Leagues homepage.

Hadrian’s Wall in Newcastle
You can’t visit Newcastle without walking along designated World Heritage Site, Hadrian’s Wall. This famous 2,000-year-old Roman defence wall stretches from Carlisle in Cumbria to Wallsend in Newcastle going right through the city.

Find more things to do in Newcastle on VisitNewcastleGatesheads homepage.

Shopping in Manchester
Manchester is a real shopping Mecca, and if you’re stranded here – take the time to do some serious shopping. Some good places to shop is The Lowry Outlet Mall at The Quays, the bohemian area Northern Quarter where you’ll find famous Afflecks, or Kings Street with its fashionable shops.

Stuck in Manchester, but don’t have any shopping cravings? Then visit VisitManchesters homepage for more inspiration.

The Harry Potter Sensation
All over Britain you’ll find places to visit if you’re a Harry Potter buff. Take the Hogwarts Express through Harry Potters London & Oxford, find the filming locations for Hogwarts Dining Hall, Hogsmead Station or Diagon Alley and lot’s of other exiting places throughout Britain.

Read the first part of our three part guide to Harry Potters Britain here.

The Beatles Story in Liverpool
While in Liverpool you don’t want to miss The Beatles Story, an interactive museum located at the historic Albert Dock in Liverpool. Join the four lads in their journey from unknown boys to world famous.

The museum is open seven days a week, all year round (excluding December 25th/26th) Opening hours are 9am – 7pm. For information about current exhibitions, admission fees etc, please visit The Beatles Story homepage.

WALES

Millenium Centre
Cardiff’s showpiece arts centre features everything from ballet and opera to hip hop shows and comedy. Known locally as the ‘Golden Armadillo‘, its gigantic bronze-coloured façade inscribed with poetry has made the building an iconic UK landmark.

Historic Pubs
If you like beer and history, Cardiff is the place to go. Many of the ancient pubs of Cardiff actually existed before the city itself. So find a pub, have a pint and take in the historic atmosphere of Cardiff.

SCOTLAND

Glasgow International Festival Of Visual Art
Have you been stuck in Glasgow and love art? Lucky you. Between16 April-3 May you have the chance to see Glasgow International Festival Of Visual Art. Packed with events, talks and tours as well as major world-class exhibitions, some by artists living in the city and others by leading international figures, the Festival is Glasgow’s art scene at its liveliest and best.

The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh
If your fond of whisky and happen to be stuck in Edinburgh, I suggest you walk down to The Scotch Whisky Museum. Apparently they just started a thrilling new guided tour where you can take a barrel ride through a replica distillery, hear stories about the craftsmanship of whisky making and get some inside hints on how to improve your palate and lead you to your favourite Single Malt Whisky.

The Scotch Whisky Experience
354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile,
Edinburgh, EH1 2NE

For more information about the opening hours or ongoing events, please visit The Scotch Whisky Museums homepage.

I hope you got some ideas on what to do in Britain when you’re stuck. For further information or inspiration, please visit our homepages:

Sweden: http://www.visitbritain.se
Denmark: http://www.visitbritain.dk
Finland (ENG): http://www.visitbritain.fi
Norway: http://www.visitbritain.no

Enjoy!

- Towe -